The budget session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly is set to commence on Monday, and it is expected to be quite tumultuous following the removal of the Mahagathbandhan government and the formation of the NDA government. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will present a vote of confidence in the assembly on Monday, seeking support from both the ruling and opposition legislators.
Prior to this, on Saturday and Sunday, political parties held feasts, training sessions, and meetings. During these gatherings, leaders from both sides made their respective claims and assertions.
The proceedings for the Legislative Assembly budget session, starting on February 12, have been outlined by the Assembly Secretariat. The current president, Avadh Bihari Choudhary, will kick off the session with his address at 11 a.m. Following that, in the central hall, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will address members of both houses (Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council). After the Governor’s address, all members will return to their respective houses.
A motion of no confidence against the Assembly Speaker, Avadh Bihari Choudhary, will be put forward for consideration in the House once the legislators return to their chambers. This may lead to a heated debate between the ruling and opposition parties. All parties have instructed their members to be present in the House during this crucial process.
Voting on the no-confidence motion will follow the discussion in the House. If a majority is established against the Speaker, further proceedings will appoint a new Speaker. Until the election of a new Speaker, the Deputy Speaker will preside over the House. However, Avadh Bihari Choudhary has already stated that he will not resign from his position.
Following the decision on the Speaker, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to present a motion in the House expressing confidence in the current state cabinet. Subsequently, members will be nominated, and a working advisory committee will be formed. After these formalities, essential tasks will be carried out.
Now, let’s look at the composition of the Legislative Assembly:
– Total MLAs: 243
– Magic number for majority: 122
– NDA alliance has: 128
– JDU: 45, BJP: 78, ‘HUM’: 04, Independents: 01
– Opposition has:
– RJD: 79, Congress: 19, Left parties (CPI, CPI-M): 14, Others: 03
On the first day of the budget session, the state’s Finance and Deputy CM, Samrat Choudhary, will present the economic survey for the fiscal year 2023-24. This report will detail the development in the state’s social and economic sectors. The survey covers 14 chapters, addressing aspects such as development rate, per capita income, agriculture, industry, labor, infrastructure, e-governance, energy, rural development, urban development, banking, human development, child development, and environment, climate change, and disaster management.